1905.] DOLPHIN'S FROM TRAVAXCORE. 127 



well ; and in both there is the same marked projection of the 

 lower in front of the upper jaw. The more pronounced elevation 

 of the region of the blow-hole in the type of T. ahuscdam * may 

 probably be explained by the greater age of the specimen. 



On the whole, I am inclined to regard the specimen under 

 consideration as being the immature form of T. ahuscdam, but it 

 may be that the absence of spotting on the belly is distinctive of 

 the Indian form at all ages, although 1 do not think this probable. 



With regard to the two specimens from Trevaiidrum figured in 

 the ' Journal of the Bombay Society ' as T.fergusoni and T. catalania, 

 I am inclined to think that the former is the immature form of 

 the latter t, despite the difference in the number of the dorso- 

 lumbar vertebrae +. Now, if colour be worth anything in this matter 

 (and if it be not, we have pi-actically nothing to go upon), the type 

 of fergusoni cannot be ideirtical with the specimen here referred 

 to ahusalam, as both are immature specimens. Moreover, the 

 specimens described && fergusoni and catalania differ from abu&alam 

 (type and young) by the general colour of the upper-parts being- 

 dark slaty instead of greenish (when the skin is dry) and in the 

 orange tinge of the under-parts. Accordingly, if both the former 

 belong to catalania (and I have practically no doubt as to the 

 correctness of the identification of the adult), that species would 

 appear to be distinct from ahusalam. In addition to the difference 

 of colour, it would seem to have fewer teeth and one caudal 

 vertebra less. 



Turning now to the specimen represented in Plate XIII. fig. 1, 

 it might appear at first that this is the adult of the one 

 figured in fig. 2 of the same Plate, if we could assume the 

 disappearance of the light under-parts with age. In the fiist 

 place, there is, however, no evidence that such a change takes 

 place in this group of Dolphins ; in the second place, the specimen 

 in fig. 1 was accompanied by a younger example which had 

 the same coloration ; and, in the third place, the adults of both 

 T. ahusalam and T. catalania have light under-parts, as is also 

 the case with T. tursio. 



Accordingly, it would appear that the Dolphin shown in fig. 1 of 

 the Plate, which is certainly a Tursiops, is distinct from these 

 three species. Now the only member of the genus which is 

 wholly black, with the undei--parts somewhat lightened, is T. gilli, 

 of the Pacific coast of Noith America, described on the evidence 

 of the skull, and only known in the flesh by " momentary observa- 

 tions " taken by Scammon. If this evidence be trustworthy, I 

 cannot separate the Trevandrum specimen from T. giUi, so far as 

 colour is concerned. 



As regards the number of the teeth, this is less in the type 

 mandible of gilli, which is immature, and also in an aged skull ; 

 and it is possible that in the one case the full number may not 



* See True, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 36, pi. ix. 



t I had not the figure of T.fergusoni when describing T. catalania. 

 X Differences in the number of dorso-lumbar vertebra; in several species of Dolphin 

 are noticed in Mr. True's memoir. 



